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| USAAF 5th AF 90th BG 319th BS  90th BG 1943  90th BG 1943 |
Pilot 2nd Lt. Raymond J. Drewelow, O-681356 (MIA / KIA, BR) Waterloo, IA Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. Edward M. Sparks, O-686504 (MIA / KIA, BR) Alton, KS Navigator 2nd Lt. James H. Nelson, O-808118 (MIA / KIA, BR) Tallulah, LA Bombardier 2nd Lt. George R. Ellison, O-686420 (MIA / KIA, BR) Danville, VA Engineer SSgt Joel G. Williams, 13119200 (MIA / KIA, BR) Meadows of Dan, VA Gunner SSgt Joshua Salvatore Elhai, 32342549 (MIA / KIA, BR) Brooklyn, NY Ball Turret SSgt William E. Van Camp, 15374878 (MIA / KIA, BR) South Bend, IN Gunner SSgt Arthur J. Swartz, Jr., 16067751 (MIA / KIA, BR) Aurora, IL Gunner Sgt Gilbert F. Smith, 35494264 (MIA / KIA, BR) Princeton, IN Gunner Sgt Anthony G. Scaccia, 38194418 (MIA / KIA, BR) New Orleans, LA Crashed March 5, 1944 MACR 3307 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated at San Diego. Constructors Number 2212. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24D-135-CO Liberator serial number 42-41135. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 90th Bombardment Group (90th BG) "Jolly Rogers", 319th Bombardment Squadron (319th BS) "Asterperious". Nicknamed "Cold Steel" in white block letters with nose art of an amazon warrior woman holding a shield and sword behind her. On the left side of the nose was a scoreboard with bomb markings indicating missions flown. This bomber flew at least 39 bombing missions and claimed at least three enemy aircraft shot down. When lost, engines R-1820-45 serial numbers 42-87720, 51902, 42-87712, 41-44509. Armed with .50 caliber machine guns and likely several .30 caliber machine guns makers and serial numbers were not listed in are noted in Missing Air Crew Report 3307 (MACR 3307). Mission History On March 5, 1944 took off from Nadzab Airfield No. 1 piloted by 2nd Lt. Raymond J. Drewelow on a bombing mission against Hansa Bay. During the flight, this B-24 disappeared in heavy thunderstorms at roughly Lat 4.10 Long 144.53. No radio transmissions were ever received from the crew, and subsequent searches did not locate them. When this aircraft failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Search The next day, a group of A-20s and B-25s on a return flight. Also three B-24s from the 319th BS also searched the Hansa Bay area. No trace of the missing plane was found. Wreckage During 1979, discovered by a group of young explorers from "Operation Drake" at an altitude of roughly 10,500'. They found a large wheel and wreckage north of Tauta. They did not find a serial number, incorrectly reporting to the press that they had found a "B-16". Recovery of Remains After the 1979 report by "Operation Drake", PNG War Museum curator Bruce Hoy, notified U.S. Army CILHI about the discovery of the crash site. No action took place until October 1988, when following a recovery mission in the vicinity of Wau, a visit was planned to investigate this bomber. On October 13, 1988, Bruce Hoy flew to Tauta and met with local officials. Flew to another nearby village Parimo and spoke to the villagers who had accompanied "Operation Drake" trekkers during 1979. They agreed to walk up to the site and clear a helipad. Bruce Hoy Diary October 17–18, 1988: "17 October 1988 - departed late from Lae and circled the mountain where the helipad was to have been constructed at 8.20am. Cloud prevented us finding it. Landed at the village and collected a headman. Again the pad could not be located. Returned to Lae. 18 October, 1988 - pad located but of insufficient width for the helicopter to land. Villagers requested to widen it for our next visit. Team departs Lae for Port Moresby." On July 4, 1989, two members of CILHI with Bruce Hoy, PNG Museum, landed near the crash site and established a camp. Rain set in, and we remained in camp for the rest of the day in very cold conditions at an altitude of 10,500'. Bruce Hoy Diary July 5, 1989: "5 July, 1989, to the crash-site at 7.55am, reaching it at 8.35am. The crash site is located down the ridge from the camp and covered the south-east section of a ridge. Located the major portions of the wings, right tail fin from which the serial number was recorded, two and possibly three engines and a large portion of the left rear fuselage. Much evidence of disturbance by previous parties including beer cans and wine bottles. Only one large calibre weapon seen. Other portions found included both main landing wheels with tyres, but no apparent evidence of the nose wheel nor forward part of the aircraft. Much wreckage being buried. Hoy identified the aircraft that day from records brought with me on site." Bruce Hoy Diary also notes: "I seem to recall that a report came to me at some time between October 1988 and June 1989 that a group had flown into the newly constructed helipad, and brought out several machine guns. With wine bottles being present, one can only imagine how disrespectful this party treated the site. A helicopter must have been used for beer and wine to have been brought onto the site, as no way would anyone carry these up from the closest village. A large fire had been lit nearby, which fortunately, later proved to have been on sterile ground. [No human remains underneath] Whatever, whoever removed those guns did so illegally, as well they did disturb the site." During August 1990, another CILHI team visited the crash site to complete the investigation. Afterwards, the recovered remains of the crew were identified using mitochondrial DNA testing. On November 26, 2001, a Department of Defense news release announced that the remains of the crew were identified and would be returned to their families. Several of the crew including Sparks had individual portions that were identified and later buried individually. Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead on January 25, 1946. Each member of the crew earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. All are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. After each crew member was identified, a rosette was added next to their name indicating they were accounted for. On December 6, 2001 the entire crew was buried at Arlington National Cemetery in a group burial at section 60, site 8017. Drewelow earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Sparks earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. On December 6, 2001 he also has an individual burial at Arlington National Cemetery at section 60, site 8018. Smith also has a memorial marker at Maple Hill / IOOF Cemetery (Princeton IOOF Cemetery) in Princeton, IN. Nelson earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Ellison earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Williams earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Elhai earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Van Camp earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Swartz earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Smith earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Meadows of Dan Baptist Church Cemetery in Meadows of Dan, VA. Scaccia earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. References This B-24 might have had nose art or nickname, but it has not been determined. Sometimes confused with B-24D "Ready Willing and Able" 42-41078 assigned to the same squadron. NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - James H. Nelson NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Joel G. Williams NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Salvatore J. Elhai NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - William E. Van Camp NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Arthur J. Swartz, Jr. NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Gilbert F. Smith NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Anthony G. Scaccia USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24D-135-CO Liberator 42-41135 "41135 (319th BS, 90th BG) lost Mar 5, 1944, New Guinea. 10 crew MIA. MACR 3307. Aircraft wreck found Jan 2, 1991 [sic]" Missing Air Crew Report 3307 (MACR 3307) Bruce Hoy Diary October 13, 1988, October 17–18, 1988, July 5, 1989 Legacy of the 90th Bombardment Group (1994) page 104, "Ready Willing and Able" incorrectly appears twice in the loss listing, confusing this aircraft with B-24D 42-41078 PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-24D Liberator 42-41135 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Raymond J. Drewelow "recovered and identified in 2001" Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - Raymond J. Drewelow (group burial photos) FindAGrave - Raymond J Drewelow (crew photo, grave photo) WWII Chickasaw County - 2nd Lt Raymond J. Drewelow (photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Edward M. Sparks "recovered and identified in 2001" Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - Edward M. Sparks (group burial photos) Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - Edward M. Sparks (individual burial photos) FindAGrave - Edward M. Sparks (crew photo, grave photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - James H. Nelson "recovered and identified in 2001" Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - James H. Nelson (group burial photos) FindAGrave - James H. Nelson (crew photo, grave photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - George R. Ellison "recovered and identified in 2001" Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - George R. Ellison (group burial photos) FindAGrave - George R Ellison (photo, crew photo, grave photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Joel G. Williams "recovered and identified in 2001" Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - Joel G. Williams (group burial photos) FindAGrave - SSgt Joel Gardner Williams (crew photo, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Joel G. Williams (crew photo, grave photo) FindAGrave - SSGT Joel Gardner Williams (memorial marker photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Salvatore J. Elhai "recovered and identified in 2001" Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - Joshua Salvatore Elhai (group burial photos) FindAGrave - Joshua Salvatore Elhai (crew photo, grave photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William E. Vancamp [sic Van Camp] "recovered and identified in 2001" Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - William E. Van Camp (group burial photos) surname two words FindAGrave - William E. Van Camp (photo, crew photo, grave photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Arthur J. Swartz, Jr. "recovered and identified in 2001" Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - Arthur J. Swartz, Jr. (group burial photos) FindAGrave - Arthur J. Swartz (crew photo, grave photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Gilbert F. Smith "recovered and identified in 2001" Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) does not list Gilbert F. Smith FindAGrave - Gilbert F Smith (photos, crew photo, grave photo) FindAGrave - Gilbert F Smith (photos, memorial marker, IOOF Cemetery) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Anthony G. Scaccia "recovered and identified in 2001" Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) -Anthony G. Scaccia (group burial photos) FindAGrave - Anthony G. Scaccia (photo, crew photo, grave photo) DoD News Release "Remains of WWII Bomber Crew Identified & Returned" Nov 26, 2001 Thanks to Pete Johnson for additional information including B-24 "Cold Steel" nickname and photo Thanks to Bruce Hoy for diary entries Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated
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